got 2 problems (catt, and haraella)

[james mickelso]

As for the catt, the roots I can see here are supporting the newest pbulb and it looks healthy. I don't see any roots on the older pbulbs. Are there any? If you mounted this catt just awhile ago, most of the roots that may have been on it supporting the older pbulbs probably weren't used to the new environment and went bye bye. Moving an orchid from one environment to another as drastic as this usually results in just this type of situation. Loss of old roots and therefore shriveling of the old pbulbs. But from the looks of the newer of the growths, things aren't as bad as one might think. Water this mounted catt a couple times a week, feeding it with a 20-20-20 fertilizer along with some root stimulator (everyone here likes seaweed or KLN) and watch it take off. Give it time to adjust. Don't fret over the old pbulbs, they are doing their job which is to support the new growth. When the newest pbulb matures, it should put out one or two buds and these are the beginning of the future of this orchid. I doubt this newest pbulb will put out any new roots until it matures this summer but if kept warm during the day with good air circulation, you never know. Most catts grow the new pbulb to maturity, then put out new roots. Sometimes not until after they flower depending on the parentage. As for a name, wait until it flowers, probably not this pbulb but the next and you will be able to find out what it's name is. For me that's part of the fun. Taking something not growing well with no name and flowering it in the future and finding out the name. As for the other orchid, it looks like the mottling is just in the leaf. It could be many things. I wouldn't sweat it untill it starts devouring the leaf. Probably due to being moved around. I have some Catts that exhibit this tendency to mottle and they still produce beautiful flowers. Give it some time. And water them liberally, give them lots of light and air movement. The spagnum moss does nothing except help maintain the humidity levels around the roots. You don't want to drown the roots as a mounted plant anymore than if it was potted in bark or moss. But in this instance you need to water more. You will be able to tell when the roots are dry. Orchids thrive with minimum care and most people don't realize how hardy they really are.